Bombing target



14, 1945- P. J. RICH ETAL 2,332,442

BOMBING TARGET Filed April 15, 1944 INVENI'ORS PAUL. P/cH L/OHN 14 G /ES/NGEQ ATTOENEYJ Patented Aug. 14, 1945 BOMBING TARGET- Paul J. Rich and John W. Griesinger, Dayton, Ohio A plication April 15, 1944, Serial No. 531,243

(Granted under the act or March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 1 Claim.

The invention described herein may be manuiactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to bombing targets and more particularly to an automatic opening parachute bombing target pack.

In providing targets for water bombing practice it has heretofore been common practice to tow a floating target into position with a tug.

One object of the present invention is to provide a floating target for aerial bombing which can be readily carried in an airplane and dropped upon the water from normal flying altitudes.

Another object is to provide a parachute target which can be discharged from a standard bomb rack such as is employed on military airplanes.

A further object is to provide a parachute target which will clear the airplane before opening.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a parachute target which may be released without leaving parts to become entangled with parts of the plane or subsequent bombs.

Other objects will become apparent upon consideration of the follownig specification, which when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrate a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawin Fig. 1 is a cross sectional elevational view of th target and pack in place on a bomb rack but with one cover shown detached;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the target shown in Fig. 1 just after release from the bomb rack;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view during opening of the target parachute;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing the target parachute fully open; and

Fi 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the target parachute afloat on the water.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the parachute target In is shown as being of tnmcated pyramidal shape, having shroud lines I2. The shroud lines |2 are attached to a lead line I4 which carries a stabilizing weight IS. The weight IE will hold the parachute erect on the surface of a body of water, with the edges of the chute under water, as shown in Fig. 5. The parachute, which is made of non-porous material, is then kept afloat by the air trapped within the truncated pyramid.

Referring to Fig. 1, the parachute I is packed in the lower compartment I8 of an expansible container 20, with the stabilizing weight l forming a closure for the lower or open end of the compartment l8. A pin 22 pwes through the wall 01' the container 20 into weight l5 and secures the weight in place therein prior to dropping the target from the plane. The container 20 is divided into an upper compartment 24 and the aforesaid lower compartment l8 by a transverse partition 25 liked to the side walls of the container. The upper compartment 24 of the container 20 contains a pilot parachut 26 having shroud lines 21 packed next to the partition 25 and attached to the partition 25 through a lead line 28 tied to an eye-bolt 29 or by any other suitaiblemethod. Apilot rope 3| is attached to the top of the pilot parachute 26 and passes through tearable or frangible partition 33. The pilot rope 3| has a break section or weak link'f34 .therein which is located adjacent the outer end thereof and which is adapted to break at a predetermined tension. For transportation, the loose end of the rope 3| is packed in the upper end of the container and retained therein by a cover 31 (shown detached) which protects the frangible partition 33.

Operation In operation the complete parachute pack is held in a bomb rack 40 by means of straps 4| or other suitable means. A cord 42 is attached; at one end to the pin 22 and is secured at the other end to some fixed portion of the airplane, as to an eye-bolt 43. The cover 31 is removed and the end of the pilot rope 3| secured to a fixed portion of the airplane, for example, to an eye-bolt 45.

When the bombardier wishes to drop the target he releases the hooks in the bomb rack 40, dropping the container 20. As the container drops, the cord 42 pulls out the pin 22 leaving the weight l5 free to slide out of the container 20 by a suitable pull.

As the container drops, the pilot rope 3| tears the partition 33. When the container reaches the end of the rope 3|, the pilot chute 26 is pulled out of the upper compartment. When the end of the pilot chutes shroud lines are reached, the weight of the container jerks the pilot rope 3| causing the weak link 34 to break and free the container from the plane. The jerk on the rope 3| causes the weight l5 to leave the end of the lower compartment while the opening of the pilot chute 26 forms a drag on the container 20. permitting the weight l5 to pull the target parachute l0 free of the container 20.

The target chute l0 upon landing in the water It is to be understood that the form of the in-- vention herein shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the invention and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claim.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

A bombing target adapted to be dropped from an airplane upon a body of water comprising, in combination, a casing which is open at both ends; a stabilizing weight adapted to close one of said ends means to secure said weight within the end closed thereby; means attached to the airplane to release said securing means upon movement of the bombing target away from the airplane to taining the packed parachute; a, pilot parachute permit the weight to move out of the casing; a go on the opposite side oi. the partition; lines connecting the pilot parachute with the partition; frangible closure means at the opposite end 01 the casing to close said end and hold the pilot parachute within the casing until the target is dropped; and a cord attached to the pilot parachute and passing through said frangible closure means and extending outside the casing to a connection with the airplane, said cord being readily breakable.

PAUL J. RICH.

JOHN W. GRIESINGER. 

